The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-05-27
POPULAR SCIENCE.

A compound of common salt, alum,
soable glass and tungstate of soda is sue
cessfully used in Austria and switzerland
for the extinction of fires.
Preliminary tests have shown that iron
cooled while strong current of electric
ity was passing through it was increased
fully onc-half in tensile strength and due
tility.
NJ. Lacombe, Frenchman, has sue
reeded IN taking long-distance photo
graphs by fixing telescope in front OF
the objective ofthe camera. heapparatus
promises usefulness to tourists and other
amateurs.
French physicians claim to have found
out by experiments upon rabbits that tu-
bercnlosis may be cured by the administra-
ton of tannin Over fifty cases of phthisis
have been treated by giving tannin in
doses of from two to four grams daily,
and Improvement was perceptible in two
weeks, the patients increasing in weight.
Professor Davidson says that the Lick
telescope will unvail stars of one-degree
fainter magnitude than can be detected
by the instruments now in use. This
would be no small gain. A correspond
ingly increased power ought to add to
our knowledge of Mars, which is the
planet Of most immediate interest to OBJ
servers on this globe.
Dr.Guillassee OF the French navy, in a
paper on typhoid fever, says: "Coffee
has given US unhoped-for satisfaction;
after having dispensed it, we find, TO our
great surprise, thatits actionis as prompt
s--st is decisive. No sooner have our
patients taken a few tablespoons of it than
their features become relaxed, and they
come to their senses. The next day the
improvement is such that we are tempted
to look upon coffee as specific against
typhoid fever.
The vibrations of even severe earth
quakes, says Professor G. II. Darwin, are
very short. Brick and stone chimneys
will be shattered by one of quarter of
an inch. As rule, the disturbance
originates from one and half to seven
miles below the surface, and very rarely
at greater depths. Earthquakes occur on
steeply sloping shores, and are most fire.
quent in winter, when the changes in
barometric pressure are greatest. The
moon, also, probably has some influence.
The weight of the air and of the tides
act upon the situation as trigger upon
a gun. The internal heat of the earth
is doubtless the moving cause, and the
gradual uneven shrinkage OF the surface
its manifestation.
The extreme delicacy of the sense of
smell in man has been shown by a series
of interesting experiments by Messrs.
Fisher and Penzoldt In an empty room
of some two hundred and thirty cubic
metres capacity, and tightly closed,
small quantity of the particular substance
to be detected was thoroughly mixed
with the air, and the observer then adj
mitted Among the different substances
which were tested in this manner, it was
found that the very smallest amount re-
cognizable was .01 of milligram of mer-
captain This quantity diifused through
the room sufficed TO make its distinctive
character appreciable in the small volume
of air coming in contact with the nerves
of the nose, from which it was estimated
that the 400, 600, 900 part of milligram
of this substance was recognizable-an
ininitesimal quantity, passing conception,
but which science declares to be fact.